DOCSLIB.ORG

Fredericksburg Today

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Fredericksburg Today Fredericksburg Today A documentary photo book of contemporary Fredericksburg by Stephen “Steve” Collins Fredericksburg, Virginia I am a photographer. I can’t see myself as anything else. A retired twenty-two year veteran of the US Coast Guard and a federal contractor for nearly thirteen years; whether it be in my private studio, or on location I am now doing what I love. In this world of specialization, my parent’s strong values and military background taught me flexibility and adaptability. I strive to find the unique within the common. In June 2011, I moved from Prince William County to Fredericksburg. It wasn’t until I moved here that I immediately fell in love with the town’s history, buildings, people, and the sense of community in a small town. As a photographer, I decided to start a personal project and capture contemporary Fredericksburg. For over a year, I have photographed its battlefields, historical buildings, downtown, festivals, and the wonderful (sometimes eclectic) residents of this town. I met with Eileen from the Griffin Bookshop and Coffee Bar in July 2012 to show her some of my photography. Eileen mentioned there are several books on historical Fredericksburg and the civil war, but none that show Fredericksburg today. She went on to say she receives several requests each week from visitors for a book on Fredericksburg as it is now. She felt my photography project on Fredericksburg would be perfect for such a book. Fredericksburg Today – A Photo Documentary on Contemporary Fredericksburg is the accumulation of this project. This book is dedicated to Michele. Without her friendship and help, this project would still be lying on the spare bedroom floor. Fredericksburg today retains its fundamental Christian and conservative values handed down from generation to generation, this monument on Washington Street commemo- rates Thomas Jefferson's drafting of the Vir- ginia Statute for Religious Freedom. This famous bill established the principle that "no man shall suffer on account of his religious opinions or beliefs." It was later incorporated into the U.S. Constitution as the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Each year on January 13th, the city celebrates at this location, Jefferson’s vision to give each Vir- ginian and each American their religious freedom. 2 Fredericksburg is an independ- ent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located 49 miles south of Washington, D.C., and 58 miles north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286. Located near where the Rappa- hannock River crosses the Fall Line, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia dur- ing the colonial era. During the Civil War, the town, halfway between the capitals of the op- posing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and Second Battle of Fredericks- burg, preserved in part as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylva- nia National Military Park. Tourism is a major part of the economy, with approximately 1.5 million people visiting the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums and historic sites. Major employers include the University of Mary Washington, and Mary Washington Healthcare. Many Fredericksburg-area resi- dents commute to work by car, bus, and rail to Washington DC, Fairfax, Prince William County, and Arlington, as well as Richmond. This has led to Fredericksburg becoming more culturally synonymous with the rest of Northern Virginia. 3 With a nostalgic, old fashioned soda fountain, Goolrick’s Pharmacy has been in business since 1867. Operating the oldest soda fountain in the nation, Gool- rick’s maintains a complete pharmacy in the rear. If you’re over 50, or not, and want to see the way drugstores “used to be” you’ll appreciate the old fashioned atmosphere, delicious food and extensive menu. 4 When Fredericksburg was created in 1728, seven leading landowners in Spotsyl- vania County were appointed to design the town. The men set aside a city block for use by the Anglican Church and the public market. In its early years, the square was the site of numerous activities such as fairs and militia musters. After the Revolu- tion, the town council created and ran a market in this space for “… the sale and vending of all manner of cattle, victuals, provisions, goods, wares and merchandizes whatsoever.” This out- door market continued to operate in the Square until the late 19th century. Today, this small space is all that is left of Fredericksburg’s original market place, next page. 5 Historic Market Square, with all of its charm, is now used as an outdoor venue for larger events. Chartered in 1985, the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center offers permanent and traveling exhibitions in the Catherine W. Jones McKann Center and Historic Town Hall that showcase the history and culture of the Fredericksburg region. 6 After 190 years of having Masons enter the Lodge, this step so worn down, be- came a hazard and was replaced with a new threshold made of granite. Now, in front of the Lodge, a reminder of the many historical figures that stepped on it, including the Marquis de Lafayette and an untold number of community leaders. Home to the largest collection of items related to our fifth President, the James Monroe Museum first opened in 1927 by the descendants of President Monroe. Now administered by the University of Mary Washington, it was given over to the Commonwealth and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 7 The Rising Sun Tavern, no longer serving food and drink, instead provides "Tavern Wenches" and male "Indentured Servants" for visitors with a lively interpretation of eighteenth-century tavern life. Built by the younger brother of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War, became a popular stop, including John Marshall, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, and John Paul Jones. After meeting Washington during the French and Indian War, Hugh Mercer moved to Fredericksburg on Washington's advice to practice medicine and operate an Apothecary. 8 Farmers Bank opened in Fredericksburg in 1812 and the current building was built in 1820. President Lincoln addressed troops and citizens from the bank steps on April 22, 1862 and during the military occupation of Fredericksburg the bank was Headquarters of the Union command. The building is now a mu- seum containing a restored banking room and local banking artifacts which in- clude a scale for weighing gold dust, a counterfeit bank note from the 1800s, bank certificates and correspondence from the 1860s. The Fielding Lewis Store is one of the oldest urban retail buildings in the United States. Built in 1749, the store was damaged in the great Fredericksburg fire of 1807, and was remodeled early in 1808. The walls were raised to two stories, providing the merchant with more storage and living space upstairs. 9 The Sentry Box is an historic Federal style frame house in Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia. The house was built in 1786 for General George Weedon. The house de- rives its name from its strategic location on the Rappahannock River which gave a good view for watching the approach of ships. Built about 1745 by Colonel Charles Dick, nicknamed “The Little White House” is said to be the oldest private residence in Fredericksburg. Built in several stag- es between the early and late eighteenth century. 10 This three-story structure on the river dates back to the early 1700s. Some be- lieve it was originally used as a jail. Others say it was a tobacco warehouse. The Old Stone Warehouse had a mysterious past. No one was certain when it was originally constructed, although most dated it to the mid-1700s. After being flooded several times and filled with river mud, the basement door and windows, shown below were sealed up and the building became three stories. Recently, the basement was opened and an archeological excavation is underway. 11 The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA) is the oldest art cen- ter in the greater Fredericks- burg area and hosts two art galleries, art classes, and various special events. It was founded by some of Freder- icksburg’s leading residents in October 1963. For nearly half a century FCCA has evolved into a leading visual arts center, and for the last two decades has maintained a national presence. FCCA’s juried art exhibits are well subscribed and usually include artwork from nationally recognized artists, as well as from regional artists located in Virginia, Maryland, and DC. Via Colori® is the modern day expression of a centuries-old art form. This annual event gathers more than 100 artists in each of more than a half-dozen cities. Each artist's large scale masterpiece is sponsored by a business or individual, and is created directly on the pavement of their closed-off city streets. 12 It is common to see street artists dis- playing and performing their craft along Caroline street during festivals and holidays. The Christmas holiday season tends to be especially popular. Established in 2005, the Virginia Wine Experience offers the finest in imported and domestic wine, beer and gifts. It is a family owned and operated business located on Caroline Street. The store also participates in First Friday displaying local artists work. 13 Original lane leading to the Fredericksburg City Dock, site of the Washington Ferry across the Rappahannock River to his boyhood home in Stafford County. Union soldiers who crossed the Rappahannock River on the Middle Pontoon Bridge would have either turned north and advanced along Sophia Street or walked up Rocky Lane to Caroline Street in beginning their advance toward Marye's Heights. 14 The “City of Fredericksburg “ Paddle Wheel Boat departs from 207 Sophia Street at the City Dock along the Rappahannock River.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Program: Michael Barber (Virginia Department of Historic Resources) and Lauren Mcmillan (St
    47th Annual Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference March 16-19, 2017 Virginia Beach Resort and Conference Center 2800 Shore Drive Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 i MAAC Officers and Executive Board President President-Elect Douglas Sanford Gregory Lattanzi Department of Historic Preservation Bureau of Archaeology & Ethnography University of Mary Washington New Jersey State Museum 1301 College Avenue 205 West State Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401 Trenton, NJ 08625 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Membership Secretary Elizabeth Moore Eleanor Breen VA Museum of Natural History Office of Historic Alexandria/Alexandria Archaeology 21 Starling Ave 105 N. Union Street, #327 Martinsville, VA 24112 Alexandria, VA 23314 [email protected] [email protected] Recording Secretary Board Member at Large Brian Crane David Mudge Versar, Inc. 2021 Old York Road 6850 Versar Center Burlington, NJ 08016 Springfield, VA 22151 [email protected] [email protected] Board Member at Large/ Journal Editor Student Committee Chair Alexandra Crowder Roger Moeller University of Massachusetts, Boston Archaeological Services 18 Saint John Street Apt. 4 PO Box 386 Boston, MA 02130 Bethlehem, CT 06751 [email protected] [email protected] ii The Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference and its Executive Board express their deep appreciation to the following individuals and organizations that generously have supported the undergraduate and graduate students presenting papers at the conference, including those participating in the student paper competition. D. Brad Hatch Lenny Truitt Michael Madden Claude A Bowen, Jr. The Archaeological Friends of Fairfax County Society of Delaware Archaeology ASV - Col. Howard Archeological Society MacCord Chapter of Maryland David Mudge Dovetail CRG, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Architectural Reconnaissance Survey, FBHA and HAXR Segments
    ARCHITECTURAL RECONNAISSANCE Rͳ7 SURVEY, FBHA AND HAXR SEGMENTS ΈSEGMENTS 8 AND 9Ή D.C. TO RICHMOND SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL June 2016 Architectural Reconnaissance Survey for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond, Virginia High Speed Rail Project Fredericksburg to Hamilton (FBHA) and Hamilton to Crossroads (HAXR) Segments, Spotsylvania County Architectural Reconnaissance Survey for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond, Virginia High Speed Rail Project Fredericksburg to Hamilton (FBHA) and Hamilton to Crossroads (HAXR) Segments, Spotsylvania County by Emily K. Anderson and Heather D. Staton Prepared for Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 600 E. Main Street, Suite 2102 Richmond, Virginia 23219 Prepared by DC2RVA Project Team 801 E. Main Street, Suite 1000 Richmond, Virginia 23219 June 2016 June 22, 2016 Kerri S. Barile, Principal Investigator Date ABSTRACT Dovetail Cultural Resource Group (Dovetail), on behalf of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), conducted a reconnaissance-level architectural survey of the Fredericksburg to Hamilton (FBHA) and Hamilton to Crossroads (HAXR) segments of the Washington, D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail (DC2RVA) project. The proposed Project is being completed under the auspices of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in conjunction with DRPT. Because of FRA’s involvement, the undertaking is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The project is being completed as Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) File Review #2014-0666. The DC2RVA corridor is divided into 22 segments and this document focuses on the FBHA and HAXR segments only.
    [Show full text]
  • Rappahannock Regional Jail 34
    Part I: Setting the Stage Setting the Stage In 2007, the City Council adopted a Vision Statement to guide Fredericksburg toward its 300th anniversary in 2028. This Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for the community to attain that vision – addressing current conditions, defining goals for the future, and providing strategies that reconcile the existing conditions and the City’s desired outcomes. This Part I of the Comprehensive Plan sets the stage with a clear statement of vision, a brief overview of what a comprehensive is supposed to be, and a presentation of facts that provide a community profile. Preface Chapter 1: Vision and Comprehensive Plan Overview Chapter 2: Fredericksburg: A Community Profile 1 Preface Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 2014 This Comprehensive Plan has been prepared to guide decision making. It is to be used to help the City of Fredericksburg move forward in a manner that embraces local values and achieves the City’s vision for itself. The Fredericksburg City Council adopted its last comprehensive plan in 2007. A year later, the nation experienced a severe economic downturn that had a tremendous impact on the available revenues that are used to cover local government costs. The local real estate market dropped, although not as significantly as it did in some parts of the country, due to the City’s favorable location as a part of the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Still, some area housing lost value and many local businesses are still trying to recover. At this time, the City is beginning to see renewed investment in the community and this revised Plan renews the City’s policies to guide the anticipated growth.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hugh Mercer Apothecary
    The Hugh Mercer Apothecary Fredericksburg, Virginia Historic Structures Report, Part A Fall 2014 By Mary Fesak University of Mary Washington Student 1 Table of Contents Study Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 3 Project Data ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Historical Background and Context .............................................................................................................. 5 Chronology of Development and Use ......................................................................................................... 14 Physical Description ................................................................................................................................... 23 Evaluation of Significance .......................................................................................................................... 30 Condition Assessment ................................................................................................................................. 47 Bibliography ............................................................................................................................................... 50 Appendix ....................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bulletin of the State Normal School, Fredericksburg, Virginia, October
    Vol. I OCTOBER, 1915 No. 3 BULLETIN OF THE State Normal Scnool Fredericksburg, Virginia The Rappahannock Rn)er Country By A. B. CHANDLER, Jr., M. A., Dean of Fredericksburg Normal School Published Annually in January, April, June and October Entered as second-class matter April 12, 1915, at the Post Office at Fredericksburg, Va., under the Act of August 24, 1912 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://archive.org/details/bulletinofstaten13univ The Rappahannock River Country) By A. B. CHANDLER, Jr., M. A. Dean Fredericksburg Normal School No attempt is made to make a complete or logically arranged survey of the Rappahannock River country, because the limits of this paper and the writer's time do not permit it. Attention is called, however, to a few of the present day characteristics of this section of the State, its industries, and its people, and stress is laid upon certain features of its more ancient life which should prove of great interest to all Virginians. Considerable space is given also to the recital of strange experiences and customs that belong to an age long since past in Virginia, and in pointed contrast to the customs and ideals of to-day; and an insight is given into the life and services of certain great Virginians who lived within this area and whose life-work, it seems to me, has hitherto received an emphasis not at all commensurate with their services to the State and the Nation. The Rappahannock River country, embracing all of the counties from Fredericksburg to the mouth of this river, is beyond doubt one of the most beautiful, fertile and picturesque sections of Virginia.
    [Show full text]
  • NPS Form 10 900 OMB No. 1024 0018
    United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) The Lewis Store City of Fredericksburg, VA Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Check only one box.) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing x private x building(s) 0 0 buildings public - Local district 0 0 sites public - State site 0 0 structures public - Federal structure 0 0 objects object 0 0 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) listed in the National Register N/A 1 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) COMMERCE/TRADE: Department Store COMMERCE/TRADE: Organizational 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) COLONIAL: Georgian foundation: BRICK walls: BRICK roof: WOOD: Shake other: STONE: Sandstone 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) The Lewis Store City of Fredericksburg, VA Name of Property County and State Narrative Description (Describe the historic
    [Show full text]
  • Debt of Honor, Thomas Katheder Describes the Effect That a Gambling Habit Had on One of Virginia’S Most Notable Families—The Carters
    This page intentionally left blank. THE JOURNAL OF FREDERICKSBURG HISTORY Volume Fifteen Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. The Lewis Store 1200 Caroline Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Copyright 2016 by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Unless otherwise listed, all images were produced by the authors or their agents on behalf of the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal of Fredericksburg History (ISSN 1093-2771) is issued by the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. The Foundation’s mission is to preserve, protect, and revitalize the distinctive historic environment and cultural resources of the Fredericksburg area through education, advocacy, and financial support. For information on membership, please write to the Foundation at 1200 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401, call the office at 540-371-4504, or email us at [email protected]. Additional details on the organization can also be found on our website, www.hffi.org. Contributions to the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation are tax-deductible. Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors President: Emily Taggart Schricker Vice President: vacant Secretary: Barbra Anderson Treasurer: G. Scott Walker Paul Eakin Mary Maher Richard Hansen Leslie Pugh Regis Keddie, III Honorary Board Member Doris Buffett HFFI Publications Committee & Journal Editorial Board Kerri S. Barile (Editor in Chief) Linda Billard (Technical Editor) Barbara P. Willis (Content Editor) Nancy Moore (Content Editor) William Shorter (Graphics Editor) Carthon W. Davis, III Sean P. Maroney John Hennessy Scott Walker Renee Johannesen This page intentionally left blank. FOREWORD The Underside. Merriam-Webster defines the Underside as a “part of life, a city, etc., that is hidden and usually unpleasant” or “that which is purposefully hidden from view.” Like many American cities, Fredericksburg’s past has many tales that reflect the Underside—the backroom deals that brought about monumental projects or scandals that were known by many residents but never shared.
    [Show full text]
  • Architectural Reconnaissance Survey, DJFB Segment
    ARCHITECTURAL RECONNAISSANCE Rͳ6 SURVEY, DJFB SEGMENT ΈSEGMENT 7Ή D.C. TO RICHMOND SOUTHEAST HIGH SPEED RAIL December 9, 2015 Architectural Reconnaisance Survey Dahlgren Junction to Fredericksburg (DJFB) Segment, City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County FINAL Architectural Reconnaissance Survey for the Washington, D.C. to Richmond, Virginia High Speed Rail Project Dahlgren Junction to Fredericksburg (DJFB) Segment, City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County by Heather Dollins Staton and Adriana Lesiuk Prepared for Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 600 E. Main Street, Suite 2102 Richmond, Virginia 23219 Prepared by DC2RVA Project Team 801 E. Main Street, Suite 1000 Richmond, Virginia 23219 December 2015 December 9, 2015 Kerri S. Barile, Principal Investigator Date ABSTRACT Dovetail Cultural Resource Group (Dovetail), on behalf of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), conducted a reconnaissance-level architectural survey of the Dahlgren Junction to Fredericksburg (DJFB) segment of the Washington, D.C. to Richmond Southeast High Speed Rail (DC2RVA) project. The proposed Project is being completed under the auspice of the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) in conjunction with DRPT. Because of FRA’s involvement, the undertaking is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The project is being completed as Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) File Review #2014-0666. The DC2RVA corridor is divided into 20 segments; this document includes background data that will place each recorded resource within context and the results of fieldwork and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) evaluations for all architectural resources identified in the Dahlgren Junction to Fredericksburg segment only.
    [Show full text]
  • Janet Marie Sullivan
    They are the best accomplishments of my life – my three children- Kathryn, Kim, and Chris. Janet Marie Sullivan A great deal of time and a great deal of love went into two other pursuits of Janet’s life. Her care and love of patients in the nursing profession lasted for over thirty years. Her interest in everything historical brought her to historical preservation. Janet Marie Sullivan Interviewer: Today is October 6, 2008. My name is Suzanne Willis and we are interviewing Janet Sullivan who has just told me that her full name is Janet Marie Sullivan. One of the reasons we wanted to interview you, besides your being an interesting person, is because this project by HFFI was established to record various community leaders’ involvement with historic preservation. Since you are one who does a great deal, we want to do an in-depth interview. Janet Sullivan: That would be great. Interviewer: Let us start with you first. What date were you born? Janet Sullivan: The date was December 30, 1942 during the war. My father (Woodrow Wilson Jones) had gone into the service and he was not here for my birth. He served on a mine sweeper, the USS Smythe, and he made about four crossings on the Atlantic side and then was sent to the Pacific. He went into Borneo and then into Japan. Interviewer: He wouldn’t have seen you until when? Janet Sullivan: I don’t know when he saw me. There are pictures of him holding me, so he must have come home between the Atlantic and Pacific crossings and I must have been a year old at that time.
    [Show full text]
  • The Life of General Hugh Mercer
    OO /St THE LIFE OF GENERAL HUGH MERCER FRONTISPIECE THE LIFE OF GENERAL HUGH MERCER With brief sketches of General George Wash ington, John Paul Jones, General George Weedon, James Monroe and Mrs. Mary Ball Washington, who were friends and associates of General Mercer at also a sketch of Fredericksburg ; Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M., of which Generals Washington and Mercer were members; and a genealogical table of the Mercer family. BY JOHN T. GOOLRICK Illustrated NEW YORK & WASHINGTON THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1906 tsi/oy COPTBIQHT, 1906, BY JOHN T. QOOLRICK ILLUSTRATIONS General Hugh Mercer Frontispiece OPPOSITE PAGE Hugh Mercer as a country doctor in Pennsylvania. 26 The office and apothecary shop of Hugh Mercer, Fredericksburg, Va 32 The Quaker Meeting House, Princeton, N. J 52 The battlefield of Princeton 54 The Clark House, Princeton, where Gen l Mercer died 56 The monument to General Hugh Mercer at Fred ericksburg, Va 68 The grave of General Mercer in Laurel-Hill Ceme tery, Philadelphia, Pa., monument erected by St. Andrews Society 70 The Rising Sun Tavern, Fredericksburg, Va 76 Kenmore, at Fredericksburg, where Major Lewis lived 78 John Paul Jones 82 "The Sentry Box" the home of Mercer, Fred ericksburg, Va 88 The home of Mary, the mother of Washington, Fredericksburg, Va 92 The monument to Mary, the mother of Washington, Fredericksburg, Va 98 General George Washington as a mason and mem ber of Lodge No. 4 A. F. and A. M., Fredericks burg, Va 100 M219735 THIS book is affectionately dedicated to my wife, a great-granddaughter of George Mason, who was an intimate friend and associate of General Hugh Mercer.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Fredericksburg Comprehensive Plan
    City of Fredericksburg Comprehensive Plan DRAFT - December 17, 2014 Key to Consultant Mark-up: Consultant comments shown in italic blue font. Identification of typos or other potential format issues or questions shown in yellow highlight. Comment: I assume that graphic art, photographs, and other style/format elements will be added post adoption. Comment: Consider a serif fontfor main text, as opposed to sans-serif. 1 MH comments v1 Acknowledgements City Council Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Mayor William C. Withers, Vice-Mayor, Ward Two Kerry P. Devine, At-Large Matthew J. Kelly, At-Large Bradford C. Ellis, Ward One Timothy P. Duffy, Ph.D., Ward Three Charlie L. Frye, Jr., Ward Four Planning Commission Richard Friesner, Chair Joanne Kaiman, Vice-Chair James Beavers Roy F. Gratz Roy E. McAfee James M. Pates Richard Dynes City Administration and Staff Beverly R. Cameron, City Manager Kathleen Dooley, City Attorney Chuck Johnston, Director of Community Planning and Building Comment: Often, a longer list of participant acknowledgments is shown. 2 MH comments v1 Table of Contents Comment: Add page number references for each section. It’s good that the pagination is continuous rather than renumbered in each section (which some plans do). Part I: A Livable City[Comment: It could be helpful to add a subtitle here that tells the reader what the content of this Part is: “an overview of the vision and basic data”.] Preface Chapter 1: City Council Vision and Comprehensive Plan Overview Chapter 2: Fredericksburg: A Community Profile Part II: Promoting and Sustaining a Livable Community[Comment: It could be helpful to add a subtitle here that tells the reader what the content of this Part is: “Goals and Policies for key elements of the city”] Chapter 3: Transportation Chapter 4: Public Services, Public Facilities, and Preserved Open Space Chapter 5: Environmental Protection Chapter 6: Business Opportunities Chapter 7: Residential Neighborhoodsand Housing [Comment: The actual title of the Chapter includes the word “housing”.
    [Show full text]
  • Part I: a Livable City
    Draft Comp Plan for meeting of 14 October 2014 Part I: A Livable City Defining the City’s Future In 2007, the City Council adopted a Vision Statement to guide Fredericksburg toward its 300th anniversary in 2028. This Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for the community to attain that vision – addressing current conditions, defining goals for the future, and providing strategies that reconcile the existing conditions and the City’s desired outcomes. This Part I of the Comprehensive Plan sets the stage with a clear statement of vision, a brief overview of what a comprehensive is supposed to be, and a presentation of facts about community. • Preface • Chapter 1: City Council Vision and Comprehensive Plan Overview • Chapter 2: Fredericksburg: A Community Profile 1 Draft Comp Plan for meeting of 14 October 2014 Preface Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 2014 This Comprehensive Plan has been prepared to guide decision making. It is to be used to help the City of Fredericksburg move forward in a manner that embraces local values and achieves the City’s vision for itself. The Fredericksburg City Council adopted its last comprehensive plan in 2007. A year later, the nation experienced a severe economic downturn that had a tremendous impact on the available revenues that are used to cover local government costs. The local real estate market dropped, although not as significantly as it did in some parts of the country, due to the City’s favorable location along the Interstate-95 corridor, within the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Still, some area housing lost value and many local businesses are still recovering.
    [Show full text]